Exhibition exhibit
Hygienic Seal Demonstrator
for hygienic seals by Freudenberg
Exhibition stand construction for the drinktec trade fair in Munich
When hygiene convinces visually.
The exhibition exhibit makes immediately visible how particles accumulate in dead spaces of a standard seal, while the hygienic seal from Freudenberg remains completely residue-free. In the acrylic column filled with water it becomes visible how important the right seal design for hygiene and process safety is.
Exhibition exhibit for hygienic seal with water & UV light - drinktec Freudenberg - exhibition stand construction
✨ Fascination in the water flow. The Hygienic Seal Demonstrator clearly shows what matters for hygienic seals. While particles accumulate in the dead spaces of a standard seal, Freudenberg’s hygienic seal remains completely residue-free. In the acrylic column filled with water, UV light makes visible how important the right seal design is for hygiene and process safety.
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🧲 Ooh, Aah, Wow! - Customer magnets for your booth.
The engineering firm Glaser develops and manufactures custom exhibition exhibits. As eyecatchers they attract visitors’ attention with a curious “Ooh”. The advantages of your product become clear and tangible at the demonstration model with an astonished “Aah”. With a final “Wow!” you, your product and your brand stay in people’s minds.
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Operating principle of the exhibition exhibit
A hydro screw, whose motor is built into the base, stirs fluorescent granulate in the water. The granulate, which glows under UV light, settles on the overhanging standard seal as it sinks, while the hygienic seal remains residue-free.
Virtual 3D model
Already in the concept phase the exhibit model was fully constructed in 3D, to optimize proportions, function and design early on.
Real exhibition exhibit
From the digital design a precisely manufactured exhibit model was created in the real world from acrylic glass, stainless steel and black painted wood.
Exhibition exhibit in action
In action the exhibit unfolds its full effect. Flowing granulate and lighting effects create a dynamic that immediately attracts attention.
Uncompromising design - High-quality and pure
Blue shimmering water and orange glowing granulate pick up Freudenberg’s corporate design. A deep black base, high-gloss polished stainless steel screws and clear acrylic glass emphasize purity and precision. The blacklight provides a modern, almost futuristic look and reinforces the impression of innovation and high quality.
Eyecatcher - Fascination in the water flow
Already from a distance the demonstrator draws the attention of trade fair visitors. Glowing clouds of granulate swirl in the water. A dynamic spectacle that immediately arouses curiosity. Technically exciting and visually impressive, the demonstrator is the eye-catcher on the booth.
Focus - The decisive difference
At first glance the hygienic seal hardly differs from a standard seal. However, once installed it becomes visible how big the difference for hygiene actually is. Standard seals form dead spaces where residues accumulate and hygienic risks arise. The hygienic seal from Freudenberg relies on precisely fitting geometries and smooth surfaces that allow complete cleaning and significantly reduce the risk of contamination.
In the following image the standard seal on which the fluorescent acrylic granulate settles is shown below in the exhibit. The hygienic seal above remains residue-free.
The transparent flanges of the exhibit direct the view specifically to the seals. The overhang of the standard seal and the flush fit of the hygienic seal are clearly visible from all perspectives. The curved acrylic glass acts like a magnifying glass and enlarges the residues on the standard seal. This makes the advantage of the hygienic variant clearly visible.
For the exhibit the overhang of the standard seal was deliberately made slightly more pronounced, so the microscopic problem can be staged with coarse granulate.
Standard seal
The overhang creates dead spaces
Hygienic seal
The precisely fitting geometry prevents dead spaces
Noble stainless steel screws, high-gloss polished and certified
The high quality standards of Freudenberg should be reflected in the trade fair exhibit down to the last screw. Therefore, EHEDG-certified fasteners made of polished stainless steel from Kipp were used. A set of M12 fasteners consisting of a screw, a nut and a washer with a seal costs around 50 euros net.
The image above shows a considerable total value of around 3,000 euros net and the following image the noble result of polished stainless steel in combination with acrylic glass.
Development and design of the trade fair exhibit
Before production, the exhibit was fully designed digitally. This allowed function, design and proportions to be precisely coordinated and made the designs visually accessible to Freudenberg’s Hygienic Seal Team. The result was a reliable basis for a trade fair exhibit that could be realized on time and successfully.
Drive unit with Freudenberg oil seal
The water screw is positioned inside the cylinder and is driven by a brushless electric motor in the base of the model. To seal the shaft penetration, two Freudenberg oil seals arranged in series are used as radial shaft seals. Between them runs a full-ceramic ball bearing that guides the shaft precisely. The entire penetration is visible from the outside through the transparent acrylic glass bottom and is mirrored by the aluminum plate underneath.
Brushless electric motor for the hydro screw
The exhibit’s water screw is driven by a maintenance-free outrunner motor that develops high torque even at low speeds and achieves peak power of up to 540 watts. The motor is mechanically decoupled via elastic rubber spacer bolts, effectively reducing vibrations and structure-borne noise. An additional propeller supports the cooling of the drive unit.
Impressive lighting effects with blacklight using RGBAW+UV LEDs
Six RGBAW+UV LEDs with a total power of 72 watts enable flexible lighting effects and reproduce red, green and blue as well as amber, white and UV with high color fidelity. The blacklight makes the fluorescent granulate glow impressively. The unit is housed in a black-painted, 3D-printed enclosure with a CNC-milled aluminum bezel. The power supply is provided via two threaded rods, while a third transmits the DMX signal for precise control.
Microelectronics and control of the trade fair exhibit
The drive and LED unit of the exhibit are controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller with a clock frequency of 240 MHz. The software is developed in C++ and coordinates motor movements and lighting effects. The sequence starts automatically at an adjustable interval or manually via a button in the base. First, the granulate is stirred up by a short reverse run and then distributed throughout the cylinder with a fast forward run. After settling, a slow reverse run clears the mirror at the bottom and makes the oil seal visible.
Power electronics and power supply
For power electronics, a high-quality brushless controller from the model hobby sector is used. It converts the 12 volts DC from the power supply into a frequency-controlled three-phase current for the motor. The LED unit is operated at 24 volts, which is generated via a boost converter. An additional voltage regulator provides 5 volts for the LED strips in the base.
Under the hood of the trade fair exhibit
The Hygienic Seal Demonstrator can also be seen from the inside. The rear panel can be folded up via two hinges, making the interior freely accessible. In addition to the drive and electronics, there are accessories and a pressure compensation tank that reliably compensates for volume changes of the water due to temperature fluctuations.
The trade fair model in individual parts
Before assembly, all individual parts of the trade fair exhibit were carefully laid out and counted to detect missing components early.
Manufacture of the flanges from acrylic glass
All eight flanges of the exhibit were precisely CNC-milled from transparent acrylic glass in several passes. Despite the simple geometry, the challenge was to achieve the appropriate surface quality for chamfers, grooves, visible surfaces and bonding areas.
The manufacturing required the use of several cutter types. Single-flute, two-flute, conical cutters, countersinks and ball mills were used to achieve the required contours and surface qualities. The circular groove for the centering bead of the seals was produced by
Manufacture of the base and transport case from wood
The base of the trade fair exhibit was precisely manufactured from wood on the CNC machine. The 15 mm thick multiplex boards are glued with flat dowels, ensuring a permanently stable connection. The surface is coated with a matte, deep-black two-component paint that looks high-quality while being durable and impact-resistant.
To ensure that the two shells of the transport case fit precisely into each other, the second shell was exactly aligned to the first during gluing.
Transport case optimized for trade fair use
For trade fair use, a robust wooden box made of 12 mm thick multiplex was produced to enable safe transport and quick setup of the exhibit. Two matching wooden shells are slid over the demonstrator from both sides and fixed with clamps. This allows the 65 kg exhibit to be lifted directly using ergonomic handles without first transferring it into a box.
Because each individual pipe segment is supported all around, the trade fair model can be transported both standing and lying down. The fluid remains in the system, drainage is not required for careful transport. For road transport, it is additionally recommended to place a foam pad between the pallet and the case to further cushion shocks.
Real-time demo of the trade fair exhibit
The unedited 3-minute video shows the complete program sequence of the Hygienic Seal demonstrator. From agitation of the granulate to its distribution and settling under UV light, to clearing the mirrored base revealing the seal. The sequence exactly matches the presentation at the trade show booth.
Ooh, Aah, Wow! Customer magnets for your trade show booth.
The Glaser engineering office develops and manufactures custom trade show exhibits. As eyecatchers they attract visitors to your booth with a curious “Ooh”. The benefits of your product become clear and tangible on the demo model with an astonished “Aah”. With a final “Wow!” you, your product and your brand remain memorable.
Technical details and notes for the trade show team
The following section describes the technical details of the exhibit and contains additional notes for the trade show team on handling.
Dimensions and weight
Exhibit: 390 x 390 x 977 mm
Base: 390 x 390 x 180 mm, Tube: Ø250 x 722 mm
Transport case raw dimensions: 424 x 424 x 1000 mm
=> Case incl. handles and fittings: 504 x 434 x 1010 mm
Tare weight: 33 kg + Fluid: 32 kg
=> Exhibit: 65 kg
Exhibit: 65 kg + Transport case: 21 kg
=> Transport weight: 86 kg
Stainless steel pushbutton with LED ring
Pressing the pushbutton starts the following sequence:
- 1s - Bright white flicker of all LEDs to attract attention.
- 5s - Reverse run, to loosen the granulate (5s)
- 2s - Short strong forward run, to distribute the granulate
- 5s - Reverse run, to prevent vortices
- 77s - Pause to allow the granulate to settle
- 50s - Several short reverse impulses to clear the mirrored base so the seal becomes visible. (This step is skipped for the 2 min interval.)
- Restart by button press or by the timer
(e.g. after 3 min)
If the button is pressed during a running sequence, bright red light draws focus to the deposited granulate.
Setting the interval
The sequence can be started manually by button press or automatically by a configurable interval. To select the duration, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the stainless steel button for 20s until the LED blinks rapidly
→ release - Choose the color or the time for the interval
→ press the stainless steel button briefly - Press and hold the stainless steel button for 3s until the LED blinks
→ setting accepted
The following settings are possible in step 2:
Red → 2min*, Green → 3min, Blue → 5min, Magenta → 10min, White → 15min, Orange → 30min, UV → 60min, Off → Manual
*For the “2 min” interval the clearing of the seal in the program sequence is skipped
Fluorescent acrylic granulate
The fluorescent PMMA granulate glows a bright orange under UV light and thereby creates a high contrast to the complementary color of the slightly bluish glowing fluid. The cylindrical particles (grain size approx. 3 × 2 mm) are slightly denser than the fluid used, sink at about 1 cm/s and rest on the bottom again after around 80 seconds. Because of their rounded shape the grains roll off the protruding seal when stirred up and then resettle.
Durable fluid
The fluid consists of the following components to be as durable as possible and require minimal maintenance:
- 62.5% distilled water - provides optical clarity and low viscosity for good flow properties.
- 31.25% propylene glycol - reduces water activity for natural preservation, reduces evaporation and supports lubrication of the shaft seal.
- 6.25% Alphacool Tec Protect 2 Clear - forms a thin protective film on brass and stainless steel, keeps the pH slightly alkaline and with antioxidants prevents optical aging under light.
- 0.5 ml SpaBalancer AntiFoam - acts as a silicone-based defoamer to prevent formation of water bubbles on the tube wall and on the acrylic granulate and thus to prevent floating.
Shaft feedthrough with radial shaft seals
The shaft feedthrough was realized with two radial shaft seals (4×12×0 BA – 72 NBR 902 – 4041107) from Freudenberg. Between the radial shaft seals the 4 mm stainless steel shaft is precisely guided by a full ceramic ball bearing (4×12×4). The space between the two seals is completely filled with silicone grease to ensure reliable lubrication. For the upper seal the spring was removed and it was installed so that the static water pressure increases the radial sealing pressure. A small 3D-printed sleeve made of blue PETG protects the seal from ingression of granulate or contaminants.
At the container bottom, behind the lowest acrylic flange, there is a mirrored surface that reflects the light entering from above. This additionally illuminates the suspended granulate from below, enhancing its luminosity.
Maintenance-free drive
The water screw is driven by a brushless, and thus maintenance-free, outrunner motor with up to 540 watts peak power at 12 volts. The motor is decoupled by elastic distance bolts, effectively reducing vibrations and structure-borne noise. An acrylic tube with protective grille prevents any contact, while an additional propeller provides cooling. For maintenance on the seals the entire drive unit can be easily removed.
Watertight power supply
The exhibit is powered by a high-quality 12V switching power supply from Mean Well. With IP65 protection rating both the power supply and the potting on the cable are reliably protected against water. The on/off switch with integrated power LED is mounted on the secondary side.
Volume and fluid
The acrylic cylinder has a capacity of 31.6 liters. With a temperature change of 20 Kelvin the fluid expands by 0.66%, which corresponds to a volume of 205 milliliters. This expansion volume is absorbed by the expansion tank, which with a capacity of 700 milliliters provides sufficient reserve in both directions. The permanently atmosphere-vented tank was filled with 500 ml of fluid at 20 °C, so it can reliably compensate volume fluctuations. Since the hose connection at the cylinder bottom is the only opening, the water remains in the acrylic cylinder even with the drain valve open. As a result the static pressure at the seal is nearly zero, which is a significant advantage for the tightness of the shaft seals.
Access and drain valves
The two water valves are intended exclusively for service and maintenance purposes and must not be operated during operation or transport of the exhibit. The access valve on the left connects the expansion tank with the water container. It is fitted with a safety clip and must remain permanently open to ensure continuous pressure equalization. On the right is the drain valve, which is connected to a drain hose. Its end is sealed with a plug and held by a clip.
Vent valve
The vent screw is exclusively intended for service and maintenance work. In the upper full flange of the exhibit there is a bore that reaches into the interior of the water tank. This access can be opened via a set screw to release remaining air bubbles. It should be noted that the entire system must be pressurized via the drain hose to a slight overpressure.
LED module fuse
The power supply of the LED module above the cylinder is routed via three threaded rods. The front left rod serves as ground (GND), the front right as the DMX data line, and the rear one for transmitting the 24 V DC supplied by the DC/DC converter. All conductors are circuit-protected against conductor short and short circuit, ensuring safe operation. In addition, an integrated circuit breaker secures the power supply. In case of a trip it can be easily reset by pressing the red button.
Threaded flange for fastening
To securely fix the exhibit on a table, an M10 internal thread is provided in the center of the base plate of the pedestal. Through this, the demonstrator can be fastened to the table from below with a screw. For some positioning tolerance, a 20 mm diameter hole in the table is recommended. A suitable screw with washer and hand knob is designed for table thicknesses of 20 to 45 mm and is stored in the pedestal of the exhibit. It is important that the maximum screwing-in length of 35 mm is not exceeded to avoid a collision with the centrally arranged drive unit.
Cable routing with strain relief
The cable routing of the exhibit is designed to run invisibly under the pedestal. For routing the Schuko plug, a minimum 42 mm diameter hole is required in the tabletop. Behind the pedestal flap there is a groove through which the supply cable can be pulled out to the required length. With the help of a 3D-printed rotary disk the cable can be fixed, so that the appropriate length is always available.
Water-protected supply cable
The 3-meter 230 V supply cable is connected directly to the waterproof IP65 power supply, without an intermediate coupling, to provide maximum protection against moisture. For transport, the supply cable is stored in the pedestal of the exhibit.
Accessories in the transport case
The exhibit's transport case contains an electrically operated air duster, with which dust on the acrylic flanges between the screws can be quickly and easily removed. In addition, the box contains a small toolbox and various accessories that facilitate assembly.
Small toolbox
As compact as the toolbox is, the maintenance effort is equally low. The water remains permanently in the exhibit and is durable for years. For setup and possible emergencies, the following items are nevertheless included:
- 18 mm socket and ring wrench made of plastic to protect the stainless steel screws
- USB wall charger with USB-C cable for charging the electric air duster
- Microfiber cloths for cleaning the transparent acrylic segments
- Hex keys for the vent valve and for retightening the set screw of the shaft coupling
- Test strips for checking pH value
Torque values of the boltings
The screws and nuts of the flanges were tightened alternately and crosswise with the following torque values.
- Lid: 3.6 Nm
- Top: 3.6 Nm
- Bottom: 3.8 Nm
- Base: 4.5 Nm
Flip lid with lift hinges
Via two internal surface-mounted hinges, the lid of the pedestal back panel can be swung up by 170°. This makes the interior with the exhibit's technology and accessories comfortably accessible. For possible repair and maintenance work, the entire base plate of the pedestal can also be removed.
CNC-engraved nameplate
The permanently attached nameplate defines the intended use of the exhibit and contains the relevant information on year of manufacture, project and operator. It clearly indicates that it is a demonstration device for use at trade fairs and exhibitions and governs the conditions for proper operation. The URL indicated below refers to this project page.
All technical data on the exhibit
A notice plate is attached to the back of the flap in the pedestal of the exhibit, providing the trade fair team with all important technical information at a glance. It includes information on interval control, volume, fluid composition, dimensions and weights as well as valves, transport and cleaning.
The exhibit in Augmented Reality (AR)
The Hygienic Seal Demonstrator can not only be experienced live at the trade fair but also displayed virtually in Augmented Reality. With a smartphone the model can be placed in the room and viewed from all perspectives without an additional app.
Virtual exhibit
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Scan the QR code with the camera app
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Open the displayed link
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Select the cube icon at the top right
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Point the camera at the floor
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Tap to place
More 3D models and renderings
The following are renderings of the exhibit in large format. They were calculated over several hours to reproduce reflections, shadows and light refractions particularly realistically.
THANK YOU!
A big thank you to the Hygienic Seal team at Freudenberg for the trusting and appreciative collaboration. The close exchange and strong togetherness made this project a real success in a short time. Thank you for the refreshing meetings, the personal visits to the workshop and the warm welcome at the booth.
Exhibition model for hygienic seals - Freudenberg booth at the drinktec trade fair in Munich
🥳️ At the drinktec trade fair in Munich, the Hygienic Seal Demonstrator attracts visitors to the Freudenberg booth. Under UV light it becomes visible how crucial hygienic seals are for cleanliness and process safety.
🙏️ A big thank you to the Hygienic Seal team at Freudenberg for the trusting and appreciative collaboration. The close exchange and strong teamwork made this project a success in a very short time. Thank you for the refreshing meetings, the personal visits to my workshop, and the warm welcome at the booth.
🌊 Freudenberg – Manufacturer of Hygienic Seals
https://www.fst.com/
🎬 Behind the Scenes – Exhibition Model Production
https://ingenieur-glaser.de/hygienic-seal-demonstrator/
🧲 Customer Magnets for Your Trade Fair Booth – Ooh, Aah, Wow!
Ooh – attracts visitors
Aah – makes benefits clear
Wow! – anchors brand & product
https://ingenieur-glaser.de/messebau/
#Drinktec #Freudenberg #HygienicSeals #ExhibitDesign #ExhibitionStandDesign #ExhibitionBoothDesign #ExhibitionBooth #TradeFair
#Drinktec #Freudenberg #HygienicSeals #ExhibitDesign #ExhibitionStandDesign #ExhibitionBoothDesign #ExhibitionBooth #TradeFair
The trade fair exhibit at the drinktec trade show in Munich
At the drinktec trade show in Munich, the Hygienic Seal Demonstrator draws visitors to Freudenberg’s booth. Under UV light it becomes visible how crucial hygienic seals are for cleanliness and process safety.
